History of Donald Trump Jr. in Timeline
Donald Trump Jr. is an American businessman and the eldest son of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his first wife, Ivana Trump. He was involved in the family business, The Trump Organization, primarily focusing on real estate development along with his brother, Eric. Trump Jr. has also been a television personality and author. He actively campaigned for his father during both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. After leaving the White House, Donald Trump Jr. continued to be a prominent voice in conservative political circles.
December 31, 1977: Birth of Donald Trump Jr.
Donald Trump Jr. was born on December 31, 1977, in New York City, to Donald Trump and Ivana Trump.
2000: Graduation from University of Pennsylvania
Donald Trump Jr. graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School with a B.S. in Economics in 2000.
2000: Move to Aspen and Work as Bartender
After graduating in 2000, Donald Trump Jr. moved to Aspen, Colorado, where he worked as a bartender for a year before joining the Trump Organization.
2003: Begins Dating Vanessa Kay Haydon
Donald Trump Jr. began dating model Vanessa Kay Haydon in 2003.
November 12, 2005: Marriage to Vanessa Kay Haydon
Donald Trump Jr. married model Vanessa Kay Haydon on November 12, 2005, at his father's Mar-a-Lago estate.
2006: Launch of Trump Mortgage and Appearance on "The Apprentice"
In 2006, Donald Trump Jr. helped launch Trump Mortgage and started appearing as a guest adviser and judge on his father's reality TV show, "The Apprentice."
May 2007: Birth of Kai Madison
Donald Trump Jr.'s daughter, Kai Madison, was born in May 2007.
2007: Donation to Hillary Clinton Campaign
In 2007, Donald Trump Jr. donated to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
2008: Hurricane Ike
In 2008, Hurricane Ike caused significant flooding, and a picture was taken of Anderson Cooper reporting waist-deep in the floodwaters. This photo would later be misused by Donald Trump Jr.
February 2009: Birth of Donald John III
Donald Trump Jr.'s son, Donald John III, was born in February 2009.
2010: Spokesperson for Cambridge Who's Who
Donald Trump Jr. became a spokesperson for Cambridge Who's Who in 2010.
2010: Hunting Trip and Trophy Photos
In 2010, Donald Trump Jr. went on a hunting trip and took photos with his trophies, which later sparked controversy.
October 2011: Birth of Tristan Milos
Donald Trump Jr.'s son, Tristan Milos, was born in October 2011.
2011: Criticism of Frederica Wilson
In 2011, Donald Trump Jr. criticized Florida representative Frederica Wilson, confusing her with Maxine Waters, over her attire.
October 2012: Birth of Spencer Frederick
Donald Trump Jr.'s son, Spencer Frederick, was born in October 2012.
2012: Hunting Trophy Photos Controversy Erupts
Controversy arose in 2012 when photos from 2010 of Donald Trump Jr. with hunting trophies were published.
June 2014: Birth of Chloe Sophia
Donald Trump Jr.'s daughter, Chloe Sophia, was born in June 2014.
2015: Final Appearance on "The Apprentice"
Donald Trump Jr.'s appearances on "The Apprentice" concluded in 2015, coinciding with his father's last season.
2015: Hunting Photos Resurface
Photos of Donald Trump Jr.'s hunting trophies resurfaced in 2015, generating further controversy.
March 1, 2016: Interview with White Supremacist
On March 1, 2016, an interview of Donald Trump Jr. with white supremacist James Edwards aired, leading to accusations of promoting white genocide conspiracy theories.
June 9, 2016: Meeting with Russian Lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya
On June 9, 2016, Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort met with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in Trump Tower, expecting to receive damaging information on Hillary Clinton.
August 2016: Meeting with Emissaries from UAE and Saudi Arabia
In August 2016, Donald Trump Jr. met with representatives from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia who offered assistance to the Trump campaign. The meeting included Joel Zamel, George Nader, and Erik Prince.
September 2016: Holocaust Imagery and Pepe the Frog
In September 2016, Donald Trump Jr. used Holocaust imagery to criticize media coverage of Hillary Clinton and shared a Pepe the Frog image associated with white supremacy.
2016: WikiLeaks Solicits Trump Jr. Cooperation
In 2016, WikiLeaks sought Donald Trump Jr.'s cooperation to reject the election results and spread misinformation.
2016: Trump Jr. Posts Pepe the Frog Image
In 2016, Donald Trump Jr. shared an image of Pepe the Frog, a meme associated with white nationalism, on Instagram. He dismissed criticism of the post.
2016: Skittles Analogy Controversy
In 2016, Donald Trump Jr. sparked controversy by comparing Syrian refugees to Skittles in a tweet.
2016: Involvement in 2016 Presidential Campaign and Russia Controversy
In 2016, Donald Trump Jr. played an active role in his father's presidential campaign. This period was marked by controversy due to his involvement with Russia's interference in the U.S. elections, including a meeting with a Russian lawyer promising damaging information about Hillary Clinton.
2016: Influence on Cabinet Selection and Emergence as Right-Wing Provocateur
Following his father's 2016 election victory, Donald Trump Jr. became increasingly known as a right-wing provocateur and influenced the selection of Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Interior.
2016: WikiLeaks and Trump Jr. Correspondence
During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump Jr. corresponded with WikiLeaks, sharing information and requests.
2016: Central Role and Speech at Republican National Convention
Donald Trump Jr. played a crucial role in his father's 2016 presidential campaign and delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention alongside his siblings.
January 11, 2017: Oversight of Trump Organization Assets
On January 11, 2017, Donald Trump Jr. and his brother Eric were announced as overseers of a trust holding the Trump Organization's assets during their father's presidency.
March 2017: Criticism of Sadiq Khan
In March 2017, Donald Trump Jr. criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan after the Westminster attack, drawing criticism from British lawmakers.
April 2017: Praise for Conspiracy Theorist
In April 2017, Donald Trump Jr. praised conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich.
April 2017: Campaigning and Strategy Discussions
In April 2017, Donald Trump Jr. campaigned for Greg Gianforte and met with RNC officials.
May 2017: Promoting Conspiracy Theory about Vince Foster
In May 2017, Donald Trump Jr. promoted a conspiracy theory linking Bill Clinton to Vince Foster's death.
July 8, 2017: Release of Email Exchange with Rob Goldstone
On July 8, 2017, Donald Trump Jr. publicly released his email correspondence with Rob Goldstone, revealing his agreement to meet with a Russian lawyer in anticipation of receiving damaging information about Hillary Clinton.
September 2017: Secret Service Detail Removal
In September 2017, Donald Trump Jr. requested the removal of his Secret Service detail, citing privacy concerns, but it was later restored.
November 7, 2017: Trump Jr. Tweets Incorrect Voting Date
On November 7, 2017, the day after the Virginia gubernatorial election, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted encouraging voters to vote "tomorrow."
November 2017: WikiLeaks Correspondence Revealed
In November 2017, Donald Trump Jr.'s correspondence with WikiLeaks during the 2016 election was revealed.
2017: Description as "Not the Sharpest Knife"
Reports surfaced in 2019 that Donald Trump had referred to his son, Donald Trump Jr., as "not the sharpest knife in the drawer" back in 2017.
2017: Prairie Dog Hunt with Greg Gianforte
On Earth Day 2017, Donald Trump Jr. legally hunted prairie dogs in Montana with GOP Congressional candidate Greg Gianforte.
2017: Trump Inauguration and Alleged Overpayment for Event Space
In 2017, Donald Trump's inauguration took place, and the Trump Organization was later accused of grossly overpaying for the use of event space at the Trump Hotel in Washington D.C.
February 2018: Supporting Conspiracy Theory about Parkland Survivors
In February 2018, Donald Trump Jr. liked tweets promoting a conspiracy theory about Parkland shooting survivors.
February 2018: Controversial Apartment Promotion in India
In February 2018, Donald Trump Jr. faced criticism for advertisements in Indian newspapers promoting Trump Organization apartments with the promise of a meeting and dinner with him, raising ethical concerns.
March 15, 2018: Separation and Divorce Filing
On March 15, 2018, it was announced that Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Kay Haydon had separated, and she filed for divorce.
May 2018: Retweeting Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory
In May 2018, Donald Trump Jr. retweeted a false and antisemitic conspiracy theory about George Soros.
June 2018: Trump Jr. Likes Tweet Suggesting Migrant Children are Actors
In June 2018, Donald Trump Jr. liked a tweet that insinuated children separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border were actors.
August 2018: Trump Jr. Shares Doctored Image of CNN Report
Donald Trump Jr. shared a manipulated image on Instagram in August 2018, falsely claiming it was a CNN report showing President Trump's approval rating at 50%, when the actual report showed a lower rating. He later deleted the image.
September 2018: Trump Jr. Tweets Misleading Image of Anderson Cooper
In September 2018, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted an old picture of Anderson Cooper in floodwaters, falsely implying it was recent and that CNN was exaggerating Hurricane Florence's impact to harm President Trump's image.
2018: Campaigning for Republican Candidates
During the 2018 midterm elections, Donald Trump Jr. actively campaigned for various Republican candidates, raising funds and drawing crowds.
2018: Campaigning for Republicans in Midterm Elections
Donald Trump Jr. actively campaigned for several Republican candidates during the 2018 midterm elections.
2018: Begins Dating Kimberly Guilfoyle
Donald Trump Jr. started dating Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2018.
February 22, 2019: Divorce Settlement
Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Kay Haydon settled their divorce at the end of 2018, which was announced on February 22, 2019.
June 2019: Criminal Referral by Senate Intelligence Committee
In June 2019, the Senate Intelligence Committee made a criminal referral for Donald Trump Jr. to federal prosecutors over suspicions of misleading testimony.
July 2019: Appearance at "We Build the Wall" Event
In July 2019, Donald Trump Jr. appeared at a far-right "We Build the Wall" event with Jack Posobiec.
November 2019: Trump Jr. Tweets Alleged Whistleblower's Name
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted the purported name of the whistleblower in the Trump-Ukraine scandal in November 2019, disregarding whistleblower protection conventions.
December 11, 2019: Retroactive Hunting Permit and Controversy
On December 11, 2019, it was revealed that the Mongolian government retroactively granted Donald Trump Jr. a permit to hunt the endangered Argali mountain sheep. This act and the associated trip costs for Secret Service protection drew criticism.
2019: Hunting Photos Resurface Again
The hunting trophy photos of Donald Trump Jr. were publicized again in 2019, reigniting the controversy.
2019: Description as "Not the Sharpest Knife" and Nickname "Fredo"
In 2019, reports emerged that Donald Trump had described his son as "not the sharpest knife in the drawer" in 2017, and that Trump Jr. had earned the nickname "Fredo" among some campaign staff.
2019: Publication of "Triggered"
In 2019, Donald Trump Jr. published his first book, "Triggered."
2019: "Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us" Released
In 2019, Donald Trump Jr. published "Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us." The book criticizes political correctness and alleges a victimhood complex within the American left. Trump Jr. also includes conspiracy theories about alleged attempts to harm President Trump.
February 2020: Alaska Hunting Trip Auction
In February 2020, Donald Trump Jr. agreed to a hunting trip in Alaska with the winner of a fundraising auction for the Safari Club International.
May 2020: Trump Jr. Falsely Accuses Joe Biden
In May 2020, Donald Trump Jr. made a false accusation against Joe Biden, claiming he was a pedophile.
June 2020: Trump Jr. Accuses Liberals of Hypocrisy over Protests
During the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, Donald Trump Jr. accused liberals of hypocrisy for supporting Black Trans Lives Matter protests while imposing restrictions on businesses due to the pandemic.
July 2020: Trump Jr. Restricted by Twitter for COVID-19 Misinformation
In July 2020, Twitter temporarily restricted Donald Trump Jr.'s account after he shared a video promoting hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 cure and downplaying the importance of masks, violating the platform's misinformation policy.
August 2020: Appearance at Far-Right Event
In August 2020, it was reported that Donald Trump Jr. appeared at a far-right "We Build the Wall" event in July 2019.
August 2020: Trump Jr. Shares Misleading Article about Voter Fraud
Donald Trump Jr. shared a Breitbart article in August 2020 that misrepresented data about deceased voters in Michigan to suggest widespread voter fraud, even though the ballots were rejected.
September 2020: Trump Jr. Promotes False Claims of Election Fraud
Donald Trump Jr. made unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud in September 2020, alleging a plan by the "radical left" to steal the election from his father. Social media platforms labeled his video with warnings about misinformation.
October 2020: Speculation of 2024 Presidential Run
In October 2020, Donald Trump Jr. fueled speculation of a 2024 presidential run by posting a "Don Jr. 2024" flag image.
October 2020: Potential Senate Run and Indoor Rally
In October 2020, there was speculation about Donald Trump Jr. running for Senate in 2022. He also held a crowded indoor rally without masks.
October 28, 2020: RNC Purchases Bulk Copies of "Liberal Privilege"
On October 28, 2020, the Republican National Committee (RNC) spent over $300,000 in donor funds to buy bulk copies of Donald Trump Jr.'s book, "Liberal Privilege," from his company, Pursuit Venture LLC, as "donor mementos." This was reportedly the largest sum the RNC had ever spent for this purpose.
October 29, 2020: Trump Jr. Downplays COVID-19 Deaths
On October 29, 2020, Donald Trump Jr. downplayed the significance of new COVID-19 infections and criticized media focus on them, claiming the death rate was "almost nothing." This statement contradicted the approximately 1,000 deaths recorded that day.
November 2020: Trump Jr. Suggests COVID-19 Vaccine Delay Was Politically Motivated
Following Pfizer's announcement of a successful COVID-19 vaccine in November 2020, Donald Trump Jr. insinuated that its release was delayed to hurt his father's reelection chances. The Pfizer CEO denied these claims.
November 2020: Trump Jr. Advocates for "Total War" over Election Results
In November 2020, Donald Trump Jr. advocated for "total war" to contest the 2020 US election results and threatened Republican lawmakers who didn't support his father's efforts to overturn the election.
2020: Involvement in 2020 Presidential Campaign and Election Challenges
Donald Trump Jr. was heavily involved in his father's 2020 presidential campaign and subsequent efforts to challenge the election results. He promoted unfounded claims and the "stolen election" conspiracy theory.
2020: "Liberal Privilege: Joe Biden and the Democrats' Defense of the Indefensible" Self-Published
Donald Trump Jr. self-published "Liberal Privilege: Joe Biden and the Democrats' Defense of the Indefensible" in 2020. He stated the pandemic prompted him to write the book, which criticizes Joe Biden and the Democratic Party. He opted for self-publishing to leverage his platform and anticipated bulk purchases by the RNC.
2020: Publication of "Liberal Privilege"
Donald Trump Jr. published his second book, "Liberal Privilege," in 2020.
December 31, 2020: Engagement to Kimberly Guilfoyle
Donald Trump Jr. reportedly became engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle on December 31, 2020, his 43rd birthday.
January 6, 2021: Trump Jr. Speaks at Rally Before Capitol Attack
Donald Trump Jr. addressed a crowd on January 6, 2021, criticizing GOP lawmakers who didn't support his father's attempts to overturn the election. This event preceded the attack on the US Capitol.
January 8, 2021: Trump Jr. Claims Free Speech "No Longer Exists"
On January 8, 2021, after his father's permanent ban from Twitter, Donald Trump Jr. asserted that free speech was no longer present in America.
January 11, 2021: Trump Jr. Named Person of Interest in Capitol Attack Investigation
On January 11, 2021, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine identified Donald Trump Jr. as a person of interest in the criminal investigation into the Capitol attack, considering potential charges for inciting violence.
January 14, 2021: Trump Jr. Named Person of Interest in Inaugural Funds Investigation
On January 14, 2021, Donald Trump Jr. became a person of interest in a criminal investigation regarding the misuse of his father's inaugural funds. Prosecutors intended to interview him about his role in allegedly overpaying for event space at the Trump Hotel in Washington D.C. for the 2017 inauguration.
January 2021: Scrutiny for Role in January 6th Capitol Attack
In January 2021, Donald Trump Jr. faced scrutiny and potential legal consequences for his role in the events leading up to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Attorney General for the District of Columbia investigated his potential involvement in inciting the violence.
January 2021: Trump Jr. Texts Meadows about Election
In January 2021, text messages revealed that Donald Trump Jr. texted Mark Meadows outlining ways to prevent the certification of Joe Biden as president.
March 5, 2021: Swalwell Files Lawsuit Against Trump Jr.
Representative Eric Swalwell filed a civil lawsuit against Donald Trump Jr. and others on March 5, 2021, alleging their involvement in inciting the January 6 Capitol riot.
December 2021: Change of Residency
In December 2021, Donald Trump Jr. changed his official residency from New York to Florida.
December 2021: Trump Jr.'s Texts to Meadows Revealed
In December 2021, text messages from Donald Trump Jr. to Mark Meadows were released, revealing his pleas for Meadows to convince his father to stop the Capitol attack.
January 2022: Engagement Announcement
The engagement of Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle became public in January 2022.
February 2022: Trump Jr. Amplifies Russian Propaganda
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Donald Trump Jr. spread unsubstantiated Russian propaganda alleging the US and Ukraine were developing biological weapons.
April 2022: Text Message Revelation Regarding Election Subversion
In April 2022, CNN revealed a text message sent by Donald Trump Jr. to Mark Meadows two days after the 2020 election, outlining strategies to overturn the election results.
April 2022: Trump Jr.'s Text Messages about Overturning Election Revealed
Text messages revealed in April 2022 showed Donald Trump Jr. outlining strategies to Mark Meadows to overturn the 2020 election results and secure a second term for his father, even before the winner was officially declared.
2022: Potential Senate Run
Donald Trump Jr. was suggested as a potential candidate for the vacant Senate seat in Pennsylvania in 2022.
2023: Launch of "Triggered with Don Jr" Podcast
Donald Trump Jr. launched his podcast, "Triggered with Don Jr," on Rumble in 2023.
February 16, 2024: Barred from Corporate Roles in New York
On February 16, 2024, a ruling barred Donald Trump Jr. from holding officer or director positions in New York corporations, including the Trump Organization, for two years.
May 28, 2024: Involvement in Trump Organization Financial Matters
On May 28, 2024, an email revealed Donald Trump Jr.'s involvement in the Trump Organization's financial matters, including reimbursement payments to Michael Cohen.
2024: Introduction of JD Vance at RNC
At the 2024 Republican National Convention, Donald Trump Jr. introduced JD Vance, his father's running mate.
2024: Speculation of Presidential Run
Before his father's 2020 election loss, Donald Trump Jr. was speculated as a potential 2024 presidential candidate.
2024: Kai Trump Speaks at RNC
Donald Trump Jr.'s oldest daughter, Kai, spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention.